Gage.



PATENTED APR. 2', 1907. A; MORRISON.

GAGE. APPLICATION FILEQAUG. 1; 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented. April 2, 1907.

Application filed August 1,1906. Serial No. 328,798.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW MORRISON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Coleman, in the county of Coleman and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Gages, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to gages or measuring devices for the use ofcarpenters and other mechanics, the particular object of the inventionbeing to provide a gage which may be usefully employed for the purposeof laying ofl' rafters of various dimensions without necessity for thecalculations that are usually necessary in order to cut rafters at thedesired angle, but which usually involve the use of the steel square,the trysquare, and the bevel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gage or apparatus ofthis kind which may be conveniently clamped upon the timber that isbeing operated upon so that it will be held firmly in position while inuse.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described having a saw-guide so that the saw will be guidedwhile the desired cut is being made.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve theconstruction and operation of this class of devices.

Vith these and other ends in view the invention consists in the improvedconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will behereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,but

. that changes, alterations, and modifications within the scope of theinvention may be made when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a gage constructedaccording. to the invention, a portion of the straight-edge having beenbroken off. Fig. 2 is a side view of that portion of the device havingthe straightedge. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3 3,Fig. 1, showing the saw-guide in a raised position. Fig. 4 is asectional detail view taken on the plane indicated by the lines 4 4 inFig. 1.

Corresponding parts in the several figures 5 are denoted by likecharacters of reference.

The improved gage includes a base 1, hav

to engage one edge of the piece of timber,

the opposite edge of which is engaged by the flange 2, the latter andthe spring-clamp 7 cooperating to secure the base 1 firmly upon thetimber, as will be readily seen by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings.It will be understood that the spring-clamp 7 will readily adapt itselfto the timbers of diflerent thicknesses and that the resiliency of saidspring enables the slide 4 to be moved to a position where one of thenotches in said slide is firmly engaged by the pawl 6. A cross-piece 8,connecting the flanges 3, serves, in connection with the pawl 6, toprevent displacement of the slide 4. The base 1 is provided at one endwith an obliquely-extending neck 9, which is reinforced by ribs 10 uponits upper side, said neck carrying a segment-plate 11, having on itsupper side a segmental rib 12, Fig. 3, provided with acorrespondiugly-segmental flange 13, which has been shown as beinghollow or tubular, but which may be of any desired construction. Saidflange serves to guide a sliding head 14, having a pivoted stop member15, which is adapted to engage any one of the plurality of notches 16 inthe flange 13 for the purpose of securing the head 14 in any position towhich it may be adjusted.

Pivotally mounted upon the segmentplate 11, concentrically with theflanged rib 12, is a lug 17, with which is hingedly connected agage-plate 18, having lugs 19 upon its upper side. A yoke 20 is hingedlyconnected with the lugs 19, and the side members of said yoke areconnected to form a bar 21, that extends through an aperture in the head14. Upon the latter is pivoted a pawl 22, adapted to engage any one ofthe plurality of notches in the yoke-bar 21. The gageplate 18 whenraised to an upright position may thus be secured at variousadjustments. Connected with the gage-plate is a reverselycurved arm orbar 24, provided at the edges thereof with strengthening-ribs 25, saidarm constituting a saw-guide. Upon the gageplate there may be inscribeda table of measurements, as shown at 26, serving to guide in the use ofthe device.

The notches 16 in the flange 13 and the notch 23 in the yoke-bar 21 areformed in predetermined spaces and at predetermined intervals, so'thatthe gageplate may be secured when adjusted to various positions withrelation to the base. It will be seen that by turning the lug 17 uponits pivot the hinged edge of the gage-plate may be adjusted at variousangles with relation to the straight-edge of the base. By adjusting thegage-plate upon its hinge to a vertical position it will serve as aguide in trimming the timber upon which the device has been clamped atthe desired angle. By adjusting the gage-plate at an inclination. itwill serve as a guidein making a slanting cut, as will be readilyunderstood.

This improved device is simple in construction and eflicient inoperation, and it provides a device which will assist an unskilledperson in accurately laying ofl and cutting rafters and similar timbersused in the construction of buildings.

Having thus described the inventiim, w hat is claimed is- 1. I11 a gageof the class described a base having a downturned flange and providedwith transverse flanges on its upper side, a slide mounted between thelatter flanges and having a spring-clamp at one end, and means forsecuring the slide at various adjustments.

2. In a gage of the class described a base having a downturned flange, aslide movable transversely upon the upper side of the base and having aspringclamp at one end, a guide for said slide and means for securingthe slide at various adjustments.

8. In a gage of the class described a base i havmg a downturned flangeat one edge and 5 provided with upstanding transverse flanges, a notchedslide movable between the latter and having a spring-clamp at one end,and a pawl pivoted between upstanding flanges and engaging the notchedslide.

' 4. In a gage of the class described a base having anobliquely-extending neck carrying a segment-plate, a segmental flangedrib upon said plate, a sliding head engaging the flanged rib, a lugpivotally connected with the segment-plate, a gage-plate hingedlyconnected with the lug and means for adjustably connecting thegage-plate with the sliding head.

5. In a gage of the class described a base having an obliquely-extendingneck carrying a segment-plate, a segmental flanged rib upon said plate,a sliding head engaging the flanged rib, means for securing the head atvarious adjustments upon the flanged rib, a lug pivotally connected withthe segmentplate, a gage-plate hingedly connected with the lug andcarrying a saw-guide, and means adjustably connecting the gage-platewith the sliding head.

6. In a gage of the class described a base having a downturned flange,adjustable clamping means cooperating with said flange to secure thebase in position for operation, a segment-plate connected with the baseby an obliquely-disposed neck, a gage-plate connected with thesegment-plate for movement in various planes at right angles to oneanother, means for securing the gageplate in position at variousadjustments, and a sawguide connected with the gage-plate.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREI/V MORRISON. itnesses:

J. W. VVOOD, '1. F. RoBB.

